Water closet



Sept. 12, 1939.

J. GERGER WATER CLOSET W. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed N INVENTOR- Jaoob 613F962";

WI NESSES.-

A TTORN E Y5 J. GERGER WATER CLOSET Sept. 12, 1939.

Filed Nov. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 1 TN ESSES INVENTOR:

' Jacob 621 922" BY W 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 12, 1 939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER. CLOSET I Jacob Gerger, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 23, 1938, Serial No. 241,923

7 Claims.

This invention has general reference to lavatories or toilets and, more particularly, relates to water closets of the flush type, the primary object being to provide a novel attachment for interposition between the conventional bowl and seat which, while the closet is in use, serves to establish a ventilating system whereby all obnoxious odors can be automatically exhausted.

Another object is to provide a compact attachment of the type indicated which is adapted in use to seal the closet bowl and automatically close a'power circuit to a remotely located exhauster means, and which is proof against illicit tampering, whereby its efliciency might be impeded or destroyed.

A further object is the provision of an odor extracting attachment for water closets characterized by graduated inlet apertures and differential flow channels which, in the aggregate, serve to expeditiously and completely exhaust the odors from all the inner region of the closet bowl above the customary water seal level, incidental to use of the closet, before any possibility of their collection or surrounding offensive escape therefrom.

With the stated objects and ancillary advantages in view, this invention essentially consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter disclosed, illustrated by the accompanying sheets of drawings, and the novel features whereof are more particularly pointed out in the concluding claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is an elevation of a water closet including the novel odor exhausting attachment of this invention, with parts broken out and in section for use in understanding of said invention.

Fig. II is a horizontal section on the plane 11-11 of Fig. I. r

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical section on the plane III-J11 of Fig. I, but drawn toa larger scale for purposes of clarity; and,

Fig. IV is a vertical section on the plane IV-IV of the preceding fi e.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral l, comprehensively designates a standard type of water closet bowl, 2 the seat, 3 the hinged cover or lid for said seat, 4 the conventional water tank, and 5 the flow pipes therefrom to the flush distributor rim 6 of the bowl I, all of said parts being well known.

In accordance with this invention, the seat 2 and attached lid 3, with the customary hinge elements I are first removed, and the novel attachment 8 constituting the subject-matter hereof is placed on top of the distributor rim 6, whereupon said seat and lid are replaced, in an obvious manner.

The novel attachment 8 consists of asuitable material somewhat annular structure appropri- 6 ately contoured to the surrounding upper confines of the closet bowl I, said attachment having an outer flange 3 to grip around the distributor rim 6, and an inner rim III for a purposelater on set forth. Within the structure 8 or there- 10 below is a collector chamber I I, having interior walls or partitions l2 and I3, which in conjunction with the chamber outer and inner walls l4, l5, respectively, define passages l6, I1 and l8,a1l of which open into a collector space l9 at the back of the attachment 8, and which is provided with an outlet connection in communication with suitable exhauster means, not shown, such as a remotely located electrically-operable suction-fan having an atmospheric discharge.

Conveniently to one side of the attachment 8 there is provided a switch box 2|, preferably attached to the underside of said attachment, in which is an upwardly-influenced plunger 22 having an insulating materialpush component 23. 5 Attached within the box 2|, as by clamp screws 24, 24' is a socketed contact device 25 insulated from the box by an interposed strip of suitable material, one of said screws 24 affording connection for a supply wire 26 and switch contact element 21, while to the other screw 24' is connected. thereto the return wire 28 of an electric cable' 23 in communication'with the motor of the electrically-operable suction fan hereinbefore referred to. The cable 29 is conveniently supported in the attachment 8 by clips 30, Fig. II, and passed out therefrom by way of a clamp coupler 3|, in accordance with known practice, and also to prevent its accidental or illicit disconnection.

In order to seal the bowl I when in use, the underside of the seat 2 is fitted with a suitably contoured grooved holder 32, in which is retained a soft rubber sealing element 33 for engagement on the top surface of said seat; while a plate 34 is secured in-the lower surface of the seat 2 for coaction with the switch push component 23 in an obvious manner.

To afford inlet of the odors from the bowl I to the collector chamber II, the latter is provided with serial holes 35, 36 and 31, entirely surrounding said chamber inner part. These holes 35, 36 and 31 are preferably, although not essentially, of graduated area; for example, those 35 around the back portion of the chamber ll being circular and one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter; the opposing or side holes 16 rectangular and of one-eighth by one-sixteenth of an inch dimension, and those 31 around the frontal portion correspondingly rectangular but of onequarter by one-sixteenth of an inch dimensions, in both cases with the major dimension perimetrically disposed. I I

The use and operation of the attachment 8 will be clearly apparent from the foregoing, considered in connection with flow indicating arrows, in Figs. I and II, but it is to be noted the inner rim ID of said attachment serves as a baille for directing all odorous fumes arising from use of the toilet bowl I will be drawn through the serial holes 35, I6 and 31 into the collecting chamber II and evacuated therefrom byway of the exhaust connection 20.

Obviously when the attachment I is not in normal service, the switch plunger 22.will be raised and the suction means cut out of operation; or when the bowl I is used with the seat 2 elevated, manual or other depression of the push element 23 will cause the attachment 8 to function somewhat analogous, to when said seat is used, for ventilating purposes. By extending the inner rim l0 considerably below the holes "-31, liquid being spilled on the top surface of the structure 8 will not be drawn into said holes when the apparatus is in use. This feature also prevents accumulation of moisture and corrosion in the attachment and exhaust passage to the atmosphere, whereby said passage is also prevented from giving of! offensive odors when not in use.

While there has been described one practical embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious minor changes andvariations can be effected in I adapting said invention to differing types of closets or lavatories, without departing from the spirit and scope of the hereinbefore disclosed improvements,

Having thus described my invention, I claim; 1. The combination with a water closet bowl of a ventilating attachment comprising a collector chamber adapted to fit the top of'said bowl, orifices around the inner wall of said chamber, spaced walls in said chamber dividing the orifices into series and defining associated fiow passages therefrom to a common discharge, and switch means included in the ventilating attachment for actuating a remote suction device when the bowl is in use.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the collector chamber orifices are serially graduated, I

and the spaced walls define flow passages from the respective series of orifices that merge into a common outlet space included in said chamber.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the collector chamber orifices are divided into front, side and back series respectively of graduated area and difl'erential contour, and the spaced walls define associated flow passages therefrom.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the ventilating attachment is provided with an outer flange adapted to surroundingly engage the closet bowl top, and an inner rim functional to direct the odors, incident to usage of the closet bowl, into the collector chamber.

5. In a water closet, the combination of a ventilating attachment adapted for interposition between the seat and bowl, said attachment having an outer flange engageable snugly around the bowl top with an inner deflector rim, a collector chamberin the attachment; front, side and'back serial orifices of respectively diminishing area around the collector chamber lower wall in proximity to the deflector rim; vertical walls defining rearwardly merging flow passages from the individual series of orifices to a common collector space at the back of the attachment; a discharge conduit from the attachment to a suction-exhauster device; switch means included in the attachment controlling operation of the exhauster when the closet seat is depressed; and a compressive element sustained intermediate the said seat and the attachment upper surface for sealing the same against escape of noxious flange adapted to snugly engage around the closet bowl upper part, and the inner flange functions to deflect the noxious gases, resultant to use of the closet, into the collector chamber serial 011- fices as well as serving to drain-off means preventing ingress of moisture into said chamber.

JACOB GERGER. 

